A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

Chapter 22 Alena My eyebrows furrowed as | tried to open my eyes at the sudden movement beside me. | didn't

realize | had fallen asleep when | got into my room. Maybe because | got exhausted when cried my heart out

earlier, but it had gotten dark and the movement besideindicated another presence. Of course, it was none

other than Matteo.

| could tell from the smell of his cologne.

"Hey," he spoke as as he kissed my temple.

Ever

since he confessed his love, he was being too sweet. | thought | was going to stay high on cloud nine and we

were going to have a happy marriage but after finding out the truth, | didn't know how to feel anymore. "Hi." |

muttered before sitting up, slowly moving away from him.

| turned to look at him, seeing that he has a small smile plastered on his face as he kept his distance. He didn't

know | was trying to increase the distance between us because | could tell, he only wanted to check up on me.

"Should | turn on the lights? It's getting dark," he was about to stand up and walk towards the switches or take

the remote control, but | grabbed his hand, shaking my head.

|

I didn't want him to turn on the lights because as soon as he did, he was about to see my red eyes and dark

circles. He was going to askwhat's wrong and assumed | had been crying-even though that was the truth.

"No, | just t want t the e lights "Okay... are you sure?"

turned off, now." | replied.

"Yes, I'm having a migraine. | mean, | had a migraine."

The lie escaped my lips with ease, not wanting him to question anything. | just wanted him out of my room. I just

wanted him to leavealone. If we were under different situations, if | didn't find out about him, | would've

been happy. | would've stayed still in his arms, but | didn't want him anywhere near me.

"That's why you fell asleep..." He nodded his head, tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear. "Do you feel

better now? Did you take any painkillers?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"| got us takeaways. | did call you earlier to ask you what you wanted for dinner, if you didn't eat anything yet. |

guess you were already asleep when | called. | also wanted to tell you | was going to cha bit late, and

you shouldn't wait up for me, but work finished early."

"Oh, it's fine. I'm going out," | responded and regretted immediately.

Who was | going to ask out? | had no one in mind.

"Are you going out with friends?"

"I'm out with Ana."

"Your sister?"

"Yes." 1/3

Yes.

08:32 Wed,

Chapter 22

"Will you be drinking? If you're going out for drinks, | can drop you off and pick you up when you're ready to

chome. | don't think it's safe for you to drink and drive." He continued to speak, sounding genuinely concern

as usual. "It's fine. Matteo. | can take a cab."

"I can drive you there, Alena, I'm not doing anything tonight."

| was sighing because | started to feel annoyed. If I hadn't found out about him, maybe | wasn't going to be

annoyed but it was too late.

Alexei cat the right moment to reveal the truth. | needed a few moments away from him to clear my mind

because if he was anywhere near me, like he was now, | couldn't think straight.

| could be blinded by his actions and sweet talks.

|

rean, sure.

| assyou won't be eating the takeout?" them."

"No, you can h have

"Okay, letknow when you're ready to leave."

Matteo leaned in to kiss my lips, but I slightly moved to the side, causing his lips to meet my cheek instead of my

lips. | knew he wanted more affection, and he wantedthe sway he did before but like | said, | needed

space. He leaned back with a frown, "Is there something wrong, Alena?"

Why do you askthat?"

"You just seem... diff different. Is there something that I did? You can always tellif there's anything wrong."

"No, there's nothing wrong. I still have a little headache."

"Okay, do you wantto bring up spills?"

"No, | I have them in my drawer. Besides, I've already ate them earlier."

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, caressing the side of my face.

Our eyes met in an instant and | was almost lost in them. | missed his touch and his embrace, but | couldn't let

myself give in too quickly. At least a few days were needed until | cleared my mind and asked Igor to do some

background checks, or | could always ask Matteo later. But for now, | wanted to pretend we had nothing.

No relationships. Nothing.

"I'm fine, Matteo. Can you please stop askingthat?" | sounded different. Annoyed ever and it showed clearly.

He

He seemed a little taken back by the tone of my voice and my facial expression, but I quickly looked away,

wanting to hide them. I didn't want to hurt him until | found out the truth about him-Alexei could be playing with

me. Hence, | wanted to solve the mystery first.

| needed a clear answer of my own.

If | asked Matteo now, he could be lying, and | wasn't going to hesitate in falling back into his arms. They were

tempting. 08:32 Wed, Oct 16

Chapter 22

"I'll be downstairs to wait for you when you want to leave."

| didn't bother to turn around and look at him as he left the room, closing the door shut behind him.

| appreciated the genuine concern because | knew he cared for me. He was curious about my sudden change,

but it was needed. | wasn't going to hide the way I feel just to take care of his feelings. | needed to put myself

first. Being vulnerable gotnowhere... | had my own experience with that. So, | was prioritizing myself as

always.